Sponsor: Orange County Section Jt. Chapter, PE31/IA34 Orange County Section Chapter,PEL35
Speaker: Luigi Vanfretti

Date: 14 Dec 2024
Time: 05:00 PM to 06:15 PM
Cost:
Location:
Reservations: IEEE
Summary:
Over the past decade, with the introduction of microgrids, a distributed architecture comprising small localized grids, has emerged as a concept aimed at integrating Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) while maintaining or enhancing system resiliency and reliability, while leveraging inverter-based resources (IBRs), such as solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. Nevertheless, the adoption of new grid architectures poses challenges, as implementing novel engineering concepts must consider the fundamental principles governing the operation of the existing grid to avoid potential disruptions. The risk associated with testing unproven ideas emphasizes the importance of modeling, particularly for dynamic simulation and control, to understand the interaction between the existing grid structure and microgrids.

In this context, Modelica, an open-access modeling language, offers unique features and tremendous potential for modeling and analyzing microgrids. This work utilizes Modelica to model microgrid components and systems. Beginning with the goal of leveraging DERs in microgrids, the work starts by developing renewable energy source models in the phasor domain capable of representing photovoltaic, wind, and battery energy storage systems. With these component models in place, whole microgrid models are constructed, including real-world university campus microgrids and a proof-of-concept microgrid model. Finally, these microgrid models are employed to test advanced control architectures, aiming to enhance resiliency and optimize microgrid operations to meet established performance requirements for microgrids. The results of this work provide description and validation of the aforementioned models, as well as a proof of concept of utilizing Model Predictive Control to increase microgrid resiliency and achieve optimal autonomous operation and re-synchronization with the main grid.

Bio: Luigi Vanfretti is currently a Full Professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, since July 2022, where he was a tenured Associate Professor from 2017-6/2022-6. At RPI, he leads research projects in his laboratory and with his research team, ALSETLab, in the domains of electrical power systems and aircraft electrification.

In addition to his academic duties, through Vanfretti Consulting LLC, Dr. Vanfretti serves as a consultant for utilities and research institutions, including Dominion Energy in Virginia, USA, the New York Power Authority, New York, USA, the SuperGrid Institute in Lyon, France, and CENACE (the power system operator of Ecuador), Quito, Ecuador, to name a few.